Magnesium

[muk]

I double checked everything with Salifert and have the following.

Kh: 11.5
Ca: 435
Mg: 1182

I did dose some of each when I got home 3+ hours since KH and CA were a little on the low for me.

 

[InactionJackson]

I double checked everything with Salifert and have the following.

Kh: 11.5
Ca: 435
Mg: 1182

I did dose some of each when I got home 3+ hours since KH and CA were a little on the low for me.

I think there’s a dosing calculator you can use for all 3…..kh should be 8-9 I believe. Yours is a little high
Your Calc could go up but it’s not crazy low. And if the LFS is using the spin meter then it might be off by a couple hundred compared to Salifert.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I double checked everything with Salifert and have the following.

Kh: 11.5
Ca: 435
Mg: 1182

I did dose some of each when I got home 3+ hours since KH and CA were a little on the low for me.

What is the salinity? The magnesium kit may be in error (very common, so I don't even recommend that most folks test it), but mangesium being low is often at lest partly due to low salinity.

Before adding anything, I'd try that magnesium kit on your new salt water.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Your Calc could go up but it’s not crazy low.

Definitely not crazy low, It's higher than average ocean water and I do not see any reason to raise it.

Calcium is not important to have at any particular level, and IMO, 400-550 ppm is fine.

 

[muk]

What is the salinity? The magnesium kit may be in error (very common, so I don't even recommend that most folks test it), but mangesium being low is often at lest partly due to low salinity.

Before adding anything, I'd try that magnesium kit on your new salt water.

Salinity is 1.026 when me and my maintenance guy checked it. LFS had an automatic salinity checker and read 1.023

 

[muk]

Today’s results using salifert

KH: 11.8
Ca: 450
Mg: 1200

 

[rtparty]

Today’s results using salifert

KH: 11.8
Ca: 450
Mg: 1200

Go make up 1 gallon of water. Use roughly 144grams of salt and then test salinity. It should be close to 35ppt.

Then test the brand new water with your kits and report back.

 

[muk]

Go make up 1 gallon of water. Use roughly 144grams of salt and then test salinity. It should be close to 35ppt.

Then test the brand new water with your kits and report back.

I do not make my own salt, we buy it from a LFS

 

[muk]

Many of the closed corals did show signs of improvement, not fully open but are not closed either

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Salinity is 1.026 when me and my maintenance guy checked it. LFS had an automatic salinity checker and read 1.023

That’s a big difference. Natural seawater at sg = 1.026 has 1261 ppm magnesium and at sg = 1.023 has 1115 ppm magnesium.

 

[muk]

That’s a big difference. Natural seawater at sg = 1.026 has 1261 ppm magnesium and at sg = 1.023 has 1115 ppm magnesium.

I am not sure if I trust the API aquaspin machine the LFS used nor the refractometer. In going to check later today and take some water to anther store just to compare

 

[muk]

Todays readings:

Kh: 11
Cal: 460
Mg: 1275 (doses another 50ml)

Some corals still Closed up

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Todays readings:

Kh: 11
Cal: 460
Mg: 1275 (doses another 50ml)

Some corals still Closed up

Magnesium is not the problem.

 

[muk]

Magnesium is not the problem.

What could it be Randy? I am totally lost

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Can you describe the problem more. How long have you had it, and any description other than corals closed? All corals? Some corals?

 

[muk]

Can you describe the problem more. How long have you had it, and any description other than corals closed? All corals? Some corals?

Some corals are closed. Some SPS have died. Others lost color and some are not fully extended.

Started when my maintenance guy noticed brown jelly on my hammer corals. We used prazipro to combat it thinking it might be a flat worm issue. I dosed it every 3 days for a week. Did a 15 gallon water change on day 8 then another 15 gallon on day 10. Took my water to be tested and that’s when they indicated the magnesium was at 972. Been dosing now for 3-4 days 50ml daily. Last reading is 1275

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It can be hard to diagnose and fix coral problems. We have poor insight into biological issues such as bacterial infections. I do not have a good answer exCelt that I would focus on issues other than the magnesium.

My suggestion is to post a thread in the main forum where more folks will see it, titled coral problems, and get additional input on issues such as lighting, flow, recovery and implications of the brown jelly, etc.